Alternately released and detained reciprocable actuating mechanism

ABSTRACT

The mechanism comprises a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course; and reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof. The mechanism also comprises first operating means which are responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture.

United States Patent 1 Emery ALTERNATELY RELEASED AND DETAINED RECIPROCABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM Inventor: William B. Emery, Seattle, Wash.

US. Cl. 74/110, 200/153 J Int. Cl F16h 21/44 Field of Search 200/169 PB, 167 R,

200/153 G, 153 J, 153 T; 74/110 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS Stevens 200/153 J Primary ExaminerCharlcs J. Myhrc Assistant Examiner-Wesley S. Ratliff, Jr. Attorney-Christensen, OConnor, Garrison & Havelka [57] ABSTRACT The mechanism comprises a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course; and reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof. The mechanism also comprises first operating means which are responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on theother side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture.

' 27 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEDDEC 4 ma 3 776,049

sum 8 n? 9 ALTERNATELY RELEASED AND DETAINED RECIPROCABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to reciprocable actuating mechanisms, and in particular to reciprocable actuating mechanisms which are operated by successive applications of force in one reciprocaable direction thereof.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocable actuating mechanism of this nature which is alternately released and detained against reciprocation in the other reciprocable direction thereof. Another object is to provide an alternately released and detained reciprocable actuating mechanism of this nature which is operated by balanced unidirectional forces that is, forces which are substantially equal in magnitude. A further object is to provide an alternately released and detained reciprocable actuating mechanism of this nature which is operated by balanced lowlevel forces, that is, forces which are relatively small in magnitude. A still further object is to provide a mechanism of this nature which is adapted both to servoactuate secondary reciprocable actuating mechanisms, and/or to be servo-operated by a primary reciprocable actuating mechanism; and which in either case, retains the balanced, low-level force characteristics thereof. Still another object is to provide a servo-actuating mechanism of this nature which is operated, by balanced low-level forces, regardless of the number of secondary reciprocable actuating mechanisms which it may servo-actuate; and which if desired, may servoactuate one or more secondary mechanisms, while the release and detain feature thereof is either structurally aborted or manipulatively avoided. Another object is to provide a servo-operated mechanism of this nature which is adapted either to be servo-operated by a primary mechanism that returns to the normal position thereof after each successive force is applied; or to be servo-operated by one which alternates between a normal position and an actuating position spaced apart therefrom, when such forces are applied. Other objects include the provision of a mechanism of this nature which can be miniaturized to serve as a highly compact, preassembled servo unit for an electrical device, such as where it is used as a hold-down mechanism for one or more push-button operated switch modules which are ganged together in a small tube-like cartridge mounted on a display panel. Still further objects will become apparent from the description of the invention which follows hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects and advantages are realized by a reciprocable actuating mechanism of my invention which comprises a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course; and reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable ating member between points on opposite sides of said course; and second operating means which are responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture. Preferably, both the other operating member and the latch means are rotatable about axes crosswise the course of translation of the one operating member, and the axis of the latch means is fixed in relation thereto.

The first operating means includes first cam means which are reciprocable in relation to the latch means with the one operating member and operable to reciprocate the latch means in relation thereto; and means forming a toggle joint between the latch means and the other operating member, which is responsive to reciprocation of the first cam means in the direction relatively toward the latch means, to cause the other operating member to reciprocate between said points, and responsive to reciprocation of the first cam means in the direction relatively away from the latch means, to reverse the direction of reciprocation of the other operating member between said points when the first cam means is successively reciprocated toward the latch means. The second operating means includes yieldable biasing means, and second cam means on the one operating member and the latch means which are operable to load the latch means against the bias of the biasing means when the other operating member is disposed at each of said points. The second cam means are disengageable from one another, however, when the one operating member is reciprocated relatively away from said juncture in the course thereof, but the second operating means also includes third cam means on the one operating member and the latch means which are operable to retain the latch means against the bias of the biasing means at pointsspaced apart from the second cam means on the one operating member. The third cam means are disengageable from one another in turn,

when the one operating member is reciprocated relatively toward said juncture, but the one operating member has a detent thereon, in the space between the second and third cam means thereon, which registers with the latch means at the juncture.

Preferably, the latch means and the other operating member are rotatable about axes which are disposed in spaced parallel relationship to one another, and the first carn means are operatively interposed in the space therebetween. Moreover, the latch means and the other operating member include a pair of rocker members having crank arms thereon which are oppositely disposed to one another in the latter said space.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the rocker member of the other operating member is pivotally mounted on the first cam means, and the toggle joint is formed by a pair of first angularly related cam surfaces on the crank arm of the latch means, and a spring-loaded pestle which is pivotally engaged with the rocker member of the other operating member to cause the crank arm thereof to assume a neutral position in the plane coincident with the axes of the latch means and the other operating member. The rocker member of the latch means has a pawl thereon which is oppositely disposed to the crank arm thereon and engageable and disengageable with and from the detent on the one operating member at the juncture in the course thereof.

In another such embodiment, the axes of both the other operating member and the latch means are fixed, the crank arm of the other operating member is rotated between a pair of stops, the rocker member of the latch means has a second crank arm thereon which is oppositely disposed to the first mentioned arm thereon, and the toggle joint is formed by a leaf spring which is pivotally interconnected between the second crank arm of the latch means and the crank arm of the other operating member, and adapted to assume a neutrul position when the crank arm of the other operating member is at either of said stops. The first-mentioned crank arm of the latch means has a cam latch pin thereon, and the first cam means includes a pair of first cam surfaces on the one operating member, which are oppositely longitudinally oriented to the course thereof, to one side of the detent at the juncture therein, and alternately engageable and disengageable with and from the cam pin when the one operating member reciprocates relatively toward and away from the juncture in the course thereof.

Moreover, the second cam means in the firstmentioned embodiment are formed by a first cam surface on the one operating member which is parallel to the course thereof, and a pair of curved cam surfaces at opposite angularly related ends of the first cam surfaces on the crank arm of the rocker member of the latch means. In the second-mentioned embodiment, the second cam means are formed by a surface of the pin and a pair of curved cam surfaces at opposite transversely related ends of the first cam surfaces on the one operating member.

In the first-mentioned embodiment, the third cam means includes a second cam surface on the one operating member which is parallel to but spaced apart from the first cam surface transverse the course thereof. In the second embodiment, the third cam means includes a pair of second cam surfaces on the one operating member which are spaced apart from the first cam surfaces thereon, lengthwise the course thereof, and a third cam surface on the rocker member of the latch means, which is spaced apart from the pin, radially thereof.

In the first-mentioned embodiment, the detent is interposed between the first and second cam surfaces on the one operating member, transverse the course thereof. In the second embodiment, the detent is interposed between the curved cam surface at the end of one of the first cam surfaces, and the other of the first cam surfaces, at a point spaced apart from the adjacent second cam surface on the one operating member, lengthwise the course thereof.

In the first embodiment, the one operating member may be yieldably biased in one reciprocable direction thereof and servo-operated by a third relatively reciprocable operating member which is operable to load the first cam means against the bias of the pestle in the one reciprocable direction of the one operating member, and operable to reciprocate the one operating member in the other reciprocable direction thereof against the bias thereon,

If desired, the one operating member may be employed to servo-operate a secondary reciprocable actuating mechanism which is disposed in the course thereof and yieldably biased in the direction thereof.

Also, the other operating member may constitute a secondary reciprocable actuating mechanism such as a movable switch contact arm in an electrical device, which is servo-operated by reciprocation of the one operating member. In such cases, moreover, it may be desirable to employ the one operating member for this purpose alone, without latching the same in the actuating position thereof, and if so the one operating member is limited to reciprocating only on the aforesaid one side of said juncture, as for example, where the other operating member is employed as a momentary switch.

These features will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the aforesaid embodiments of the invention as it is employed in the push-button operation of a switch assembled therewith in a cartridge on a panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS;

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal part longitudinal crosssectional view of this embodiment as it is seen in mounted condition of the panel;

FIG. 3 is a vertical part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the embodiment on the panel;

FIG. 4 is an operational view of the embodiment in the cross section of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a similar partly deleted operational view of the embodiment at a later stage in the operation;

FIG. 6 is a second such view at a still later stage in the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment on the panel;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment, absent the cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal part longitudinal crosssectional view of this second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a vertical part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same;

FIG. 11 is another horizontal part longitudinal crosssectional view;

FIG. 12 is another such vertical view;

FIG. 13 is an operational view in the normal state of the second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is another such view at a later intennediate stage in its operation;

FIG. 15 is still another such view at a still later stage;

FIG. 16 is such a view when the latched condition is achieved;

FIG. 17 is such a view when the unlatched condition is achieved and the device is returning to the normal state thereof;

FIG. 18 is an operational view when the device is employed as a momentary switch;

FIG. 19 is another such view when the device is at a still later stage in its return to the normal state;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a subassembly in the device; and

FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the subassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to FIGS. 1-3, it will be seen that the switch 4 and the push-button cap 2 for the same in the first embodiment are mounted in the relatively forward and rearward end portions, respectively, of an open ended plastic or metal tube cartridge 6 which in turn is mounted on and behind a panel 8 having a complementary opening 10 therein for the forward end portion of the cartridge. This latter end portion of the cartridge is deeply exteriorly rabbeted so as to have a reduced diameter neck 6 thereon which is insertable in the opening 10 and sized to project relatively forwardly from the panel when the shoulder 12 of the neck abuts the back face thereof. The neck 6 is also complementarily threaded to receive a stepped lock nut 14 which is engaged over the projecting end portion of the same to clamp the rim of the opening between the inverse side of the nut and the shoulder 12 of the neck.

Interiorly, the cartridge is counterbored from the rear so as to have a deeply forwardly recessed, rearwardly facing shoulder 16 at a generally central location therein, and a second slightly more recessed but smaller diameter, rearwardly facing shoulder 18 at a point forward therefrom. The shoulders serve stop functions in the assembly of the device, as shall be explained.

Interposed between the cap and the switch, within the cartridge, is a sleeve-like servo mechanism 20 for actuating the switch from the cap. The mechanism comprises a pair of relatively reciprocably guided, coaxially disposed, relatively forward and rearward sleeve-like operating members 22 and 24; and a cuplike deeply notched, spring loaded actuator member 26 which is slideably retained on the rear end portion of the rear operating member 24, by the inturned tips 28' of a pair of pincer-like arms 28 which are formed between pairs of the notches in the cylindrical body of the member. The rear operating member 24 has an outtumed flange 30 on the forward end thereof, and an interiorly, exteriorly stepped configuration at the rear end thereof, forming a reduced diameter neck 32 thereon, the inside and outside surfaces of which have reversedly coned shoulders 34 and 36 thereabout. The rear operating member 24 is also deeply slotted from the front, in a diametral plane thereof, and these diametrically opposed slots 38 extend to the rearwardly coned interior shoulder 34 of the member.

The actuator member 26 also has an outtumed flange 40 on the rear end thereof, and is sized to engage about the forwardly coned exterior shoulder 36 of the rear operating member, with the neck 32 of the member projecting therewithin, and the tips 28' of the arms 28 slideably engaged in the slots 38. A coil spring 42 is coaxially caged between the two members 24 and 26 about the neck 32, and the body of the actuator member 26 is of sufficient length, relative to the neck, to enable the members to undergo relative coaxial displacement against the bias of the spring, which displacement is limited of course, by the engagement of the tips 28 of the arms 28 against the interior shoulder 24 of the rear member 24.

In order to interengage the members 24 and 26, the actuator member 26 is manufactured from a material which is sufficiently flexible or semi-rigid in the tinished condition thereof to enable the arms 28 to be forced apart to the extent necessary to engage the tips 28 in the slots 38.

The forward operating member 22 has a shallow but wide circumferential groove 44 removed from the inner surface thereof, at a location slightly rearward from the notched forward end of the member, as well as a raised circumferential rib 46 at a more rearward location on its inner surface. The member 22 also has a pair of diametrically opposed, deeply recessed slots 48 in the rear end thereof, and a pair of additional inner circumferential ribs 50 at a common distance forward from the end between the slots 48. The member 22 is sized to slidably engage over the flange 30 on the forward end of the rear operating member 24, and in the engaged condition of the members 22 and 24, the rearward ribs 50 of the forward member 22 abut the flange 30 of the rearward member 24.

The switch actuating mechanism 20 is slidably guided within a sleeve assembly 51 comprising four, hollow, end-to-end mounting members 52, 54, 56, 58. The forwardmost of these members takes the form of a plain, thin walled Teflon sleeve 52 having an outtumed flange 60 on the rear end thereof. The remaining members 54, 56, 58 are relatively thicker walled and shorter in length, and also have a considerable number of alterations in the sleeve-like character-thereof.

More particularly, the forwardmost 54 of the three thicker-walled members has a deeply recessed counterbore 62 in the rear end thereof, and a diametrically disposed beam 64 across the original bore thereof which is flush with the shoulder 66 of the counterbore. The rearwardly oriented face of the beam 64 has a centrally counterbored slot 68 therein, which is disposed lengthwise of the beam, that is, up and down of the beam as it is seen in FIG. 1. The forwardly oriented face of the beam has a cylindrical boss 70 thereon which extends axially forwardly from the member 54 and opens into the counterbore of the slot 68 in the back face of the beam. The boss 70 is also counterbored from the front to form a slightly coned shoulder 72 at the bottom thereof, short of the point at which the boss opens into the slot 68 in the beam. Outlying the beam, in the inside surface of the member, and co-planar with the slot in the beam, there is a longitudinally extending groove 74 which opens into the slot 68 at a radius corresponding to that of the counterbore 62 in the rear of the member.

The intermediate 56 of the three thicker walled mounting members is twice counterbored from the front to form a greater diameter shoulder and then a more rearward smaller diameter shoulder 92 on the interior surface thereof. The member 56 also has a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed slots 94 in the exterior surface thereof, and an exterior rabbet 96 on the rear end thereof which is interrupted by a pair of diametrically opposed, transversely oriented slots 98 that are spaced 90 apart from the longitudinally extending slots 94 therein.

The third 58 and rearmost of the three thicker walled mounting members has a counterbore 100 in the forward end thereof, and an exterior rabbet 102 on the rear end thereof, as well as a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed slots 104 on the exterior thereof which open through the full thickness of the rabbeted rear end portion 102 of the member.

When the cap 2 is detentedly engaged in the forward end portion of the forward operating member 22 to drive the mechanism 20, it is illuminated by a lamp 75 retained in a socket on the base 78 thereof. The lamp 75 is continuously energized through a contact assembly 76 which makes use of the forward operating member 22 to complete the lamp socket side of the current path. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slotted rear end portion of the forward operating member 22 is received in the bore of the beamed mounting member 54, with the beam 64 slidably engaged in the slots 48 of the operating member 22, and the boss 70 of the beam projecting within the hollow of the member 22. Before the operating member 22 is engaged within the mounting member 54, however, an L-shaped contact arm 80, with a ring 80 peripherally attached to the shorter end thereof, is added to the member 22 by twist inserting the ring 80 within the hollow of the member 22, and slidably engaging it crosswise of the member at a point behind, that is, forward of the rearward ribs 50 thereon, so that the arm 80 projects to the rear of the member 22 through the lower slot 48 therein. At the same time, moreover, a coil spring 82 is inserted in the hollow of the member 22, and is interposed between the ribs 46 and 50 thereon, to bias the ring 80' in the direction of the rearward ribs 50 and to close the current path to the forward end portion of the operating member 22. Thereafter, when the operating member 22 is engaged within the mounting member 54, the arm 80 is passed through the rearwardly opening groove 74 therein, to pass through the remainder of the assembly and ultimately out the rear of the cartridge 6, as shall be explained. The ring 80 is captured between the spring 82 and the beam 64 of the mounting member 54, as shall also be explained.

The lamp button 84 side of the current path is formed by a telescopically assembled, spring loaded contact post 86 with a stepped neck 86 thereon, which is inserted in the boss 70 of a smaller-ringed contact arm 88 which is similar to the arm 80 but inserted in the slot 68 at the back of the beam 64 and projected to the rear of the assembly on the upper side thereof. In order to make contact, and to clamp the post 86 and arm 88 to the mounting member 54, the tip of the neck 86 is flared outwardly over the rearwardly oriented face of the ring 88 as shown.

When the intermediate and rearmost mounting members 56 and 58 are added to the members 52 and 54, to complete the sleeve assembly 51, the contact arms 80 and 88 are received in the slots 94 and 104 thereof. The rear operating member 24 is slidably engaged in the intermediate mounting member 56, with a coiled spring 106 engaged thereabout between the flange 30 on the member 24 and the smaller diameter shoulder 92 in the intermediate mounting member 56. The actuator cup 26 is received in the bore of the rearmost mounting member 58, the flange 40 on the cup abutting the rear of the same to limit the forward motion of the rear operating member under the bias of the spring 42.

Operationally, when the cap 2 is depressed inward of the cartridge 6, the forward operating member 22 drives the rearward member 24 to-the rear and the latter member in turn drives the cup 26 before it through the spring 42 caged therebetween. Ultimately, the cup 26 makes contact with the switch 4, and through the yieldable nature of the spring 42 accommodates to the counter-bias of the switch regardless of the number of spring loaded contact poles 108 thereon. For simplicity of illustration, only a single pole 108 is shown on the switch.

The switch is encased and secured within a split collet mounting 109 that is inserted in the cartridge behind the sleeve assembly 51. The switch casing, 110 has a front rabbeted parallelepipedal configuration, and is tranversely pierced by a pair of spaced parallel holes 112 therein that enable it to be pin and hole engaged with the half cylindrical shells 114 of the collet mounting. The shells 114 are corbelled at the rear and equipped with pairs of upstanding, transversely oriented pins 116 on the corbels 114', for this purpose, as well as longitudinally extending slots 118 therein which pass the contact arms and 88 out the rear of the cartridge. Also, the interior surfaces of the shells 114 are rabbeted at their forward ends 120 to enable the shells to mate with the exterior rabbet 102 on the rearmost 58 of the mounting members.

In order to alternately latch and unlatch the rear operating member 24 in the switch operating position thereof, the cartridge 6 is also equipped with a detented pawl version 122 of the latch mechanism described hereinbefore. This version comprises a birds head-like rocker member 124 which is equipped with a transverse bushing 125 for joumalling the member on a trunnion pin 126 in the bore of the rear operating member 24. In the assembly the pin is slidably engaged in the slots 38 of the operating member 24, and fixed at its ends in the slots 98 of the intermediate mounting member 56. The bill of the rocker member is sized to serve as a pawl 128 which detentedly engages with the inside shoulder 34 of the operating member 24 in the latch position of the mechanism, and the pawl 128 is rocked to and from this position by rotating the rocker member in the alternate angular directions thereof during the reciprocation of the operating member 24. For this purpose, the crest 129 of the rocker member has a pair of forwardly oriented cam surfaces 130 thereon which are symmetrically arranged about the axis of the bushing 125 in dihedral planes that coincide with a line parallel to the axis. The surfaces undergo relatively reentrant turns at points spaced laterally outwardly from the line, so as to form a pair of detent notches 132 adjacent the relatively upper and lower sides of the member.

The member is rotated in the alternate angular directions thereof by a third operating member taking the form of a wedge-shaped finger 134 which selectively engages the surfaces 130 as the switch actuating mechanism 20 is successively operated by the cap 2. The finger 134 has a half-cylindrical cross hinge 136 thereon, and is pivotally engaged in the socket 138 of a ported mortar and pestle mounting 140 for the same. The mounting 140 includes a hollow cylindrical mortar housing 142 whichis oriented to the rear so that the socket 138 in the same opens toward the front. The housing has a port 144 in the bottom of the socket, and a pair of wedge-like merlons 146 extending to the rear on either side of the port. The merlons 146 have longitudinally extending rib-like lugs 148 thereon which are adapted to slideably engage in the slots 38 of the rear operating member 24; and in the assembly the housing is slideably guided on the member 24 with the finger 134 projecting into the bore of the member through the port 144 thereof. The housing is also retained between the rearward ribs 50 of the forward operating member 22 and the beam 64 of the forward mounting member 54, by means of a flange around the forward end thereof which provides a pair of diametrically opposed, relatively horizontally projecting ears 150 thereon, as well as a pair of rounded, relatively vertically projecting ears 152 which are spaced 90 apart therefrom. The horizontally disposed ears 150 are interposed between the ribs 50 and the beam 64 by inserting the flanged forward end of the housing 142 into the bore of the operating member 22 through the slots 48, after the operating member is engaged within the mounting member 54, and then rotating the housing through 90 to trap the ears behind the ribs 50.

The mounting 140 also includes a pestle 154 which has an elongated cylindrical shank 156 and a stepped greater diameter cylindrical head 158 thereon. Before the housing 142 is engaged in the bore of the forward operating member 22, the pestle 154 is slideably engaged in the neck 86' of the contact post 86, with its shank 156 extending forwardly therein, and its head 158 interposed in the socket 138 of the housing 142 between the cross hinge 136 of the finger 134 and the flared tip of the neck 86. Also, a coiled spring 160 is caged around the head 158 of the pestle, between the step 158' on the same and the tip of the neck 86.

Thus, when the switch actuating mechanism is driven to the rear, and the housing 142 is released by the ribs 50, the spring 160 operates to advance the finger 134 and the housing 142 to the rear, deeper into the bore of the rear operating member 24, and in the direction of the crest 129 of the rocker member 124. Assuming that the rocker member is in the normal condition thereof, with the pawl 128 inserted in the neck 32 of the rear operating member 24, the finger 134 engages the lower cam surface 130 on the crest of the rocker member, and under the bias of the spring 160 slides down the surface into the adjacent notch 132, where it then loads the rocker member and the pawl against the neck of the operating member. Ultimately, however, the shoulder 34 on the operating member 24 travels to a point at which it registers with the tip of the pawl, and the bias of the spring 160 then interengages the pawl with the notch of the shoulder. Consequently, when the cap is released, and the operating members 22 and 24 are subjected to the counterbias of springs 82 and 106, only the forward operating member 22 can return to its normal position, inasmuch as the rear operating member 24 is latched against forward motion by the pawl 128.

However, when the forward operating member 22 is returned to its normal position, the ribs 50 on the same also return the mortar and pestle mounting 140 to the forward position thereof, while the bias of the spring 160 returns the finger 134 to its normal position on the axis of the assembly. Consequently, when the cap is depressed a second time, the finger engages the upper of the cam surfaces 130 and in the notch 132 there adjacent, loads the rocker member 124 in the opposite angular direction thereof while the rearward operating member 24 is reengaged by the forward operating member and driven to the rear to a sufficient extent to enable the pawl 128 to disengage from the shoulder 34.

The four mounting members 52, 54, 56, 58 and the split collet mounting 109, are normally assembled in end-abutted relationship with one another, with the switch 4 and the switch actuating and latch mechanisms 20 and 122, therein, and then the entire assembly is inserted into the cartridge 6 through the rear end thereof until the flange 60 on the sleeve 52 and the beamed mounting member 54 abut the shoulders 18 and 16, respectively, in the cartridge. Thereafter, the cap is inserted into the forward operating member 22 from the front, there being a beaded detent band 162 previously engaged in the groove 44 of he operating member to detentedly engage with a circumferential groove 164 on the exterior of the socket base 78 of the cap. I

Referring now to FIGS. 7-2l, it will be seen that the switch 202 and the push-button cap 204 for the same in this second embodiment are mounted in the relatively forward and rearward end portions, respectively, of an open ended, square cross-sectioned, plastic or metal tube cartridge 206 which in turn is mounted on and behind a panel 208 having a complementary opening 210 therein for the forward end portion of the cartridge. This latter end portion of the cartridge is equipped with an outtumed flange 212 on the end thereof; and the rear end portion of the cartridge has a plurality of holes 214 in opposite side walls thereof which take the tonged tips 216 of a clip-on swing clamp 218 that cooperates with the flange 212 in clamping the cartridge to the panel about the rim of the opening 210.

The switch 202 comprises a multi-poled terminal base 220, and a pair of movable contact arms 222 which are pivotally mounted on a pair of short, stepped and part rabbetted intermediate poles 224 of the base, to swing to and from pairs of longer secondary poles 226 to either side thereof. One side of each three-pole arrangement 226, 224, 226 has a normally open condition, and the other side has a normally closed condition. The two remaining poles 228 on the base serve as terminals for the lamp 230 in the cap, and are countersunk in the forwardly oriented face 220 of the base, at points which are interposed between the switch arrangements, to either side of the gap therebetween.

The base 220 has a generally rectangular body configuration, although the forwardly oriented end portion of the same is substantially altered about the periphery thereof. In particular, each of the upper and lower sides of this portion has a raised, transversely oriented cleat 232 thereon; and each of the vertical sides of the same is rabbeted at the comers, as well as to a slighter extent at the waist, so that from the front, the portion has a taper hipped profile 234 and stepped pockets 236 in the lower corners thereof which are interconnected with the countersinks 238 of the lamp terminals 228 through vertically oriented grooves 240 in the face 220' thereof.

The contact arms 222 are formed from individually cut I-shaped'pieces of sheet metal each of which is reentrantly bent into a U-shaped configuration and pressed together at the V-notched center webs 242 of the mutually opposing crossheads thereof, so as to leave the mutually opposing flanges 244 of the crossheads flared outwardly from the webs to form pinched Vshaped indentations 246 therebetween into which the corresponding secondary poles 296 of the terminal base may engage when the arm 222 is swung therebetween. In addition, the bight portion 248 of each arm has a slotted opening 250 therein in which the flat, smaller diameter, part rabbeted neck 252 of the corresponding intermediate pole 224 is received when the arm is mounted in its respective arrangement, the larger diameter plinth 254 of the pole meanwhile serv ing as a thrust bearing for the same as it swings about the neck.

interposed between the cap 204 and the switch 202 within the cartridge is a direct drive directional change mechanism 256 for reciprocating the contact arms 222 from the cap. The mechanism 256 comprises a pair of relatively reciprocably guided, cross axially disposed, operatively interwoven ram-ike and ram-like cam drive and cam follower operating members 258 and 260, respectively; and a pair of S-shaped leaf springs 262 which are suspended at one end on oppositely axially outstanding benches 264 on the forwardly projecting crank arm 260' of the rocker member 260 and at the other end on the contact arms 222 of the respective switch arrangements. The springs 262 have straightened mutually aligned extensions 262' and 262" on the ends thereof; and the forward extensions 262' are loosely seated in vertical end-open slots 266 in the benches 264, whereas the rearward extensions 262" are notched to pivotally straddle the V-notches in the center webs 242 of the cross heads of the contact arms 222. The benched, forwardly projecting crank arm 260 of the rocker member 260 is of thicker dimension than the rearwardly projecting crank arm 260 thereon, and steps down to the dimension of the rearwardly projecting arm along a rearwardly oriented shoulder 268 which cuts across the underside of the rocker member in a plane that is acutely angled to the major axis of the member and intersects the axis at a point to the rear of the pivotal opening 270 in the member. Further to the rear, the rearwardly projecting arm has a collared pin 272 depending from a countersunk hole 274 therein, adjacent the outlying end of the arm. The pin 272 serves as a cam follower through which the rocker member is reciprocated in the opposite angular directions thereof by the ram member 258, and be tween such stages, as a latch with which the ram member is latched against reciprocation in an intermediate stage of the device, as shall be explained.

The ram member 258 comprises a cube-like receptor 276 for the lamp base 204' of the cap, and a yoke-like ram 278 which is fixedly retained on the rear end of the receptor by the intumed flanges 280 of a pair of tonglike arms 282 which are interconnected at the rear ends thereof by a crossbed 284 having raised cam drive topography 286 thereon. The receptor 276 has a deep, large diameter bore 288 (FIG. 9) in the front end thereof which extends to a point just short of the rear wall 290 of the receptor. This wall has horizontal slots 292 across the upper and lower portions thereof, as well as slots 294 at the vertically disposed side edges thereof, which extend longitudinally forwardly well into the side walls 296 of the receptor. In addition, the

central web portion 298 of the rear wall of the receptor, within the region enclosed by the various slots 292 and 294, is countersunk about a central opening 300 (FIG. 9) therein which has a rearwardly projecting boss 302 thereon that is counterbored from the rear to form a deeply inset shoulder 304 therein. The upper and lower slots 292 of the receptor are slightly arcuate in outside configuration, so as to admit to the interior 288 of the receptor, the forwardly projecting detent arms 306 of a U-shaped conductive sheet metal clip 308 which has an apertured saddle 310 that is sized to fit about the boss 302 within the countersink 298 in the rear wall 290 of the receptor. The clip 308 detentedly engages the circumferentially ribbed socket base 204' of the cap within the bore 288 of the receptor, and also serves as an intermediate contact for the lamp socket side of the current path through which the lamp 280 is energized, as shall be explained. The corresponding contact for the lamp button 312 side of the path, is formed by a stepped cup 314 which is inserted in the boss 302 and seated on the shoulder 304 therein for this purpose, as shall be explained.

In addition to the intumed flanges 280 thereon, the arms 282 of the ram 278 also are stepped in several other respects. More particularly, the arms 282 are relieved so that the fore portions 316 of the same have wider skirts 318 than either the wrist 320 or the rails 322 of the same, thus leaving opposing shoulders 324' and 324" at either end of the skirts 318 of the portions 316. These latter portions 316 also have inwardly projecting lugs or ears 326 thereon which are disposed adjacent the wrists and terminated in line with the bottom edges thereof.

The crossbed 284 is slightly underslung with respect to the rails 322 of the arms 282, and has pairs of relatively laterally outlying and inlying islands and peninsulas carved from the topography 286 thereof. The peninsulas 328 and 328" are substantially L-shaped, and oppositely disposed in plan view, although one 328' of them has a smooth fillet 330 extending between the foot 332 and the inlying tip 334 thereof (FIGS. 13 et sequi). The other peninsula 328 is more right angular in plan, although the inlying tip 336 of it is rounded off. The larger 338' of the two islands 338' and 338" has a generally teardrop configuration, within which a fishhook shaped notch 340 (FIG. 13 et seq.) is removed from the foreside 342 of the same adjacent one end. The smaller island 338" has a generally rectangular configuration, with a truncated face 344 across the rear side thereof.

The ram 278 is joined to the receptor 276 by engaging the flanges 280 of the arms 282 in the side wall slots 294 of the receptor, the adjacent edges of the rear end web portion 298 of the receptor meanwhile interengaging between the flanges 280 and the lugs 326 on the arms, against the wrists 320, as the forward shoulders 324' of the arms 282 abut the rear wall 290 of the receptor, As in the case of the material in the cup 26 of the earlier embodiment, the material in the arms 282 is sufficiently flexible or semirigid to enable them to be so engaged with the receptor.

In the fully assembled condition of the device, the receptor is slidably guided within the bore 346(FIG. 9) of the cartridge, while the ram 278 is received in and slidably guided by a two part track assembly 348 for the same, the parts 348" and 348' of which also serve as supports for a stepped trunion pin 350 by which the rocker member 260 is mounted. The track assembly 348 interfits with the terminal base 220 so as to remain stationary in the cartridge, as shall be explained, and supports an intermediate contact assembly 352 with which the current path to the lamp 230 of the cap is completed, as shall also be explained.

The upper part 348' of the track assembly 348 has a complex configuration generally comprising a multiapertured overhead rail portion 354 and a curtain wall portion 356 depending from the forward end thereof. The rail portion 354 has a raised lip 358 extending across the rear end thereof, between and outlying the rails 360 themselves, and a compound step 262 in this end of each rail 360 which has a vertically and rearwardly oriented L-shaped shoulder 364 at the second and more forward stage thereof. The forward ends of the rails are also relieved along the bottom edges thereof, abreast of the curtain wall portion 356, to form forwardly oriented shoulders 366 thereon, at a point which is disposed somewhat to the rear of the curtain wall portion, and coincident with a cross beam 368 that extends between the rails and has the stepped trunion pin 350 depending therefrom. The rearwardly oriented face 370 of the curtain wall portion 356 is generally arcuate, at a radius about the axis of the pin 350; whereas the forwardly oriented face 372 of the same is centrally I countersunk, with the exception of a U-shaped step 374 at the upper end of the countersink 376, as well as wholly relieved across the bottom thereof to the level of the countersink 376, although there is a plain step (not shown) on one side of the relief.

The lower part 348" of the track assembly is similar but inverted in construction to the rail portion 354 of the upper part 348", in that it has parallel rails 378 extending along the longitudinal sides thereof, and an apertured crossbeam 380 therebetween at the sites of the more forward 382 of the upstanding shoulders 382' and 382" thereon. The rear ends of the rails also have steps 384 thereon, and between and outlying these ends, there is a depending lip 386 across the rear bed portion 388 of the part. Somewhat forwardly from the lip and steps, the bed portion also has longitudinally extending ribs 390 upstanding thereon in parallel with but spaced from the rails 378. The front bed portion 392 of the part has a transversely oriented slot 394 thereacross, and between the slot 394 and the forward end of the part, there is a raised bulkhead 396 on the portion 392, with a notch 398 in the upper surface thereof and a transversely oriented step 400 across the forward face thereof that drops into a groove 402 along one side of the bulkhead 396.

The intermediate contact assembly 352 for the lamp 230 of the cap comprises a pair of L-shaped contact arms 404 and 406 with oppositely intumed tabs 408 and 410, respectively, thereon, the tab 408 of which on the upper or right-hand 404 of the two arms in FIG. 8 is stepped up from the arm 404 and has a central opening 412 therein, whereas the tab 410 on the lower or left-hand 406 of the two arms has a lug 414 raised on the upper surface thereof. The contact assembly 352 also includes a pair of coil springs 416 and 418, one 416 of which is sized to oppose the tab 408 of the righthand arm 404 about the opening 412 therein, and the other 418 of which is sized to pass through-the opening 412 for contact with the lugged tab 410 of the righthand arm 406, as shall be explained. The springs 416 and 418 also serve to yieldably bias the ram member 258, as shall be explained.

In assembling the device, the contact arms 404 and 406 are secured in and on the bed 388, 392 of the lower part 348" of the track assembly, between the ribs 390 and the rails 378 at the back, and to either side of the bulkhead 396 at the front, with the tabs 408 and 410 of the same juxtaposed against the opposite faces of the bulkhead, and resting on the step 400 of the bulkhead, and the shelf 420 between the slot 394 and the bulkhead, respectively, and the right angular step 422 of the right-hand arm 404 engaged in the groove 402. The opening 424 in the bed of the part 348" enables the contact arms 404 and 406 to be passed under the crossbeam 380; and the slot 394 in the front bed portion 392 enables the left-hand contact arm 406 to be rotated within the part, under the beam, in engaging it between After the contact arms 404 and 406 are assembled in the lower part 348" of the assembly 348, the terminal base 220 is engaged in and on the rear of the part, by resting it on the lip 386, then rocking it into an upright position in which the lower cleat 232 engages in the opening 428 of the rear bed portion 388, and the steps 384 on the part 348, and the butts 430 of the arms 404 and 406 engage with the stepped pockets 236 of the base, while the upstanding thumbs 432 of the arms are wedged into the grooves 246 and the countersinks 2380f the terminals 228, in engagement with and to the outside of each terminal. Next, the upper part 348' is inverted and the rocker member 260 is mounted on the step 350 of the pin 350; and then the lower part 348" is superposed on the upper part, with the ram 278 interposed therebetween, and the neck of the pin 350 entering the opening 433 in the beam 380 of the lower part. As the two parts 348' and 348" are engaged with one another, the curtain wall portion 356 of the upper part passes immediately behind the tab 410 of the lefthand contact arm 406, and the bulkhead 396 is engaged, together with the tabs of the contact arms, in the countersink of the curtain wall portion 356, with the lug 414 on the tab 410 of the left-hand arm 406 engaging in the notch of the step 374, and the tab 408 of the right-hand'arm 404 overlying the forwardly oriented face of the step 374.

Moreover, the arms 282 of the ram 278 are slidably engaged between the rails 360 and 378 of the parts, as the hips 234 of the forward portion of the base 220 engage the steps 384 of the lower part, and the race 220' of the forward portion abuts the L-shaped shoulders 382" thereadjacent. 7

As the ram 278 is added, however, it is withdrawn relatively forwardly, so that the cam drive topography 286 thereon is interposed between the pin 272 and the shoulder 268 of the rocker member. Thus, the forward travel of the ram member is limited by theengagement of the right angular peninsula 328' and the truncated rectangular island 338" of the topography with the shoulder 268 of the rocker member; whereas the rearward travel of the same is limited by abutment of the rear shoulders 324" of the arms 282 of the ram 278 with the forward shoulders 366 and 382 on the rails 360 and 378 of the track assembly, there being a cam effect of the topography 286 on the rocker member, beforehand, however, to drive the pin 272 off one end or the other of the tear-drop island 338 before the ram member can reach the limits of its travel. The lugs 326 on the arms 282 of the ram 278 also act as stops against the ramparts 434 of the forwardly oriented face 372 of the curtain wall portion 356 of the upper part 348' of the track assembly.

Recesses 435 in the skirts of the rails 360 of the upper part, enable the part to be gripped between the thumb and adjacent forefinger of one's hand for the purpose of .interengaging the track assembly.

After the clip 308 and cup 314 are added to the receptor 276 in the manner indicated earlier, this latter assembly is then engaged with the ram 278, or vise versa, by separating the arms 282 of the same as indicated earlier. Simultaneously, the springs 416 and 418 are added between the receptor and the track assembly, by inserting the smaller spring 418 in the cup 314,

passing the larger spring 416 about the boss 302, and v caging the springs 416 and 418 between the cup and the saddle 310 of the clip, respectively, at their forward ends, and the tabs 408 and 410 of the fixed contact arms 404 and 406 at their rearward ends, as indicated earlier.

The movable switch contact arms 222 and the leaf springs 262 are inserted through the openings 436, 438, 424, and 428 in the track assembly, and mounted in the manner indicated earlier, using a pair of needle-nosed pliers.

The assembled device is then inserted into the cartridge 206, through the rear end opening thereof, the lips 358 and 386 of the track assembly engaging the rear end of the cartridge to locate the device therein. The cap 204 is then inserted from the front and detentedly engaged in the recetor, as indicated earlier. receptor,

When the device is mounted in use on the panel, the terminal base is interengaged with a female counterpart (not shown) therebehind, so that in the normal state of the device, the springs 416 and 418 force the ram member 258 forward to the point at which the topography 286 of the ram engages the shoulder 260 of the rocker member. The engagement of the topography and the shoulder limits the travel of the ram member as indicated, and in addition, causes the rocker member to rotate to the counterclockwise limit of the same in FIG. 13. In this condition, the rocker member is biased slightly beyond the relaxed condition normally sought by the leaf springs 262 so that the springs 262 exert a counterbias on the rocker member which is clockwise about thepinot point 350 thereof. Consequently, when the cap 204 is depressed inwardly of the cartridge, and the ram member is driven to rear by the cap, thus causing the topography of the ram to disengage from the shoulder of the rocker member, then the rocker member is swung clockwise about its pivot, under the bias of the springs 262, to a point at which the pin 272 on the rocker member is disposed in the path of the teardop island 338 of the topography. Thereafter, the pin is engaged by the backside 440 of the island, as seen in FIG. 14, and the rocker member is driven still further in the clockwise direction by the cam action of the island on the pin as the ram member continues to travel to the rear. Simultaneously, the benches 264 on the forward crank arm 260' of the rocker member swing the leaf springs into a shortened disposition in which the moment of force on the contact arms 222 causes the arms to toggle across to the opposite right-hand secondary poles 226 of the base, as seen in FIG. 14.

Assuming now that the ram member is driven still further to the rear, the ensuing action is one of latching the device in the switch-thrown condition of FIG. 14. Thus, as the ram member continues to the rear, the cam action of the teardrop island 338' progressively loads the rocker member against the bias of the leaf springs until ultimately, the more forward end 442 of the island is driven past the pin and the counterbias of the springs produces a sharp counterclockwise rotation of the rocker member in the direction of the truncated rectangular island 338" which is now opposed to the pin. The pin abuts the latter island as seen in FIG. 15, and subsequently, when the ram member is released for return to the forward condition thereof under the bias of the springs 416, 418, the pin slips off the truncated rectangular island and into the notch 340 in the foreside 342 of the teardrop island. The continued counterclockwise rotational bias of the springs 262 in turn drives the pin into the fishhook of the notch where the ram member is latched against reciprocation in the forward direction thereof by the engagement of the pin and the island. See FIG. 16.

The ram member is released for return to its forward position, by depressing the cap and the member a second time so as to release the pin from the notch; whereafter the foreside 342 of the island 338 exerts a cam action on the pin to continue the counterclockwise rotation of the rocker member as seen in FIG. 17. Ultimately, at a point where the pin nears the more rearward end 444 of the island, the switch contact arms 222 are caused to swing to the left-hand secondary poles 226 in the same manner in which they were swung to the right-hand poles in FIG. 14; and simultaneously, the springs 262 momentarily resume a neutralized condition.

It remains now the task of the shoulder 268 of the rocker member and the topography of the ram to return the rocker member to the normal state of FIG. 13. Thus, as the shoulder and the topography reengage, the rocker member is driven into the condition of FIG. 13 against the counterbias of the springs 262.

If desired, the mechanism can be employed solely as a means of throwing the contact arms, without latching the cam member in the process. For example, the receptor 276 may be equipped with rearwardly projecting lugs or ears 446 thereon, as in FIGS. 18 and 19, which abut the ramparts 434 of the track assembly when the rocker member and the contact arms are in the condition of FIG. 14. Subsequently, when the cap and ram member are released, the pin of the rocker member is captured by the fillet 330 of the peninsula 328" and the rocker member is driven in the counterclockwise direction, as in FIG. 18. Eventually, the pin leaves the inlying tip 334 of the peninsula, but at the same time or shortly thereafter, the shoulder 268 of the rocker member reengages the foreside 448 of the right angular peninsula 328', so that as the pin floats in the channel 450 of the topography at the rear of the ram (FIG. 19), the shoulder operates both to throw the contact arms and to return the rocker member to the normal condition of FIG. 13.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, drive means for reciprocating the one operating member, first operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture.

2. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, first operating means which are responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture, the other operating member and the latch means being rotatable about axes crosswise the course of translation of the one operating member, and the axis of the latch menas being fixed in relation thereto, and the first operating means including first cam means which are reciprocable in relation to the latch means with the one operating member and operable to reciprocate the latch means in relation thereto, and means forming a toggle joint between the latch means and the other operating member, which is responsive to reciprocation of the first cam means in the direction relatively toward the latch means, to cause the other operating member to reciprocate between said points, and responsive to reciprocation of the first cam means in the direction relatively away from the latch means, to reverse the direction of reciprocation of the other operating member between said points when the first cam means is successively reciprocated toward the latch means.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the second operating means includes yieldable biasing means, and second cam means on the one operating member and the latch means which are operable to load the latch means against the bias of the biasing means when the other operating member is disposed at each of said points.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the second cam means are disengageable from one another, when the one operating member is reciprocated relatively away from said juncture in the course thereof, and the second operating means also includes third cam means on the one operating member and the latch means which are operable to retain the latch means against the bias of the biasing means at points spaced apart from the second cam means on the one operating member.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the third cam means are disengageable from one another, when the one operating member is reciprocated relatively toward said juncture, but the one operating member has a detent thereon, in the space between the second and third cam means thereon, which registers with the latch means at the juncture.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the latch means and the other operating member are rotatable about axes which are disposed in spaced parallel relationship to one another, and the first cam means are operatively interposed in the space therebetween.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the latch means and the other operating member include a pair of rocker members having crank arms thereon which are oppositely disposed to one another in the latter said space.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the rocker member of the other operating member is pivotally mounted on the first cam means, and the toggle joint is formed by a pair of first angularly related cam surfaces on the crank arm of the latch means, and a spring-loaded pestle which is pivotally engaged with the rocker member of the other operating member to cause the crank arm thereof to assume a neutral position in the plane coincident with the axes of the latch means and the other operating member.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the rocker member of the latch means has a pawl thereon which is oppositely disposed to the crank arm thereon and engageable and disengageable with and from the detent on the one operating member at the juncture in the course thereof.

10. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the axes of both the other operating member and the latch means' are fixed, the crank arm of the other operating member is rotated between a pair of stops, the rocker member of the latch means has a second crank arm thereon which is oppositely disposed to the firstmentioned arm thereon, and the toggle joint is formed by a leaf spring which is pivotally interconnected between the second crank arm of the latch means and the crank arm of the other operating member, and adapted to assume a neutral position when the crank arm of the other operating member is at either of said stops.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the first-mentioned crank arm of the latch means has a cam latch pin thereon, and the first cam means includes a pair of first cam surfaces on the one operating member, which are oppositely longitudinally oriented to the course thereof, to one side of the detent at the juncture therein, and alternately engageable and disengageable with and from the pin when the one operating member reciprocates relatively toward and away from the juncture in the course thereof.

12. The combination according to claim 9 wherein the second cam means are formed by a first cam surface on the one operating member which is parallel to the course thereof, and a pair of curved cam surfaces at opposite angularly related ends of the first cam surfaces on the crank arm of the rocker member of the latch means.

13. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the second cam means are formed by a surface of the pin and a pair of curved cam surfaces at opposite transversely related ends of the first cam surfaces on the one operating member.

14. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the third cam means includes a second cam surface on the one operating member which is parallel to but spaced apart from the first cam surface transverse the course thereof.

15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the third cam means includes a pair of second cam surfaces on the one operating member which are spaced apart from the first cam surfaces thereon, lengthwise the course thereof, and a third cam surface on the rocker member of the latch means which is spaced apart from the pin, radially thereof.

16. The combination according to claim 14 wherein the detent is interposed between the first and second cam surfaces on the one operating member, transverse the course'thereof.

17. The combination according to claim wherein the detent is interposed between the curved cam surface at the end of one of the first cam surfaces, and the other of the first cam surfaces, at a point spaced apart from the adjacent second cam surface on the one operating member, lengthwise the course thereof.

18. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the one operating member is yieldably biased in one reciprocable direction thereof and servo-operated by a third relatively reciprocable operating member which is operable to load the first cam means against the bias of the pestle in the one reciprocable direction of the one operating member, and operable to reciprocate the one operating member in the other reciprocable direction thereof against the bias thereon.

19. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a secondary reciprocable actuating mechanism in said course, which is yieldably biased in the direction of the one operating member, and servooperated in the other reciprocable direction thereof, by the one operating member, acting against the bias thereon.

20. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising means for limiting the reciprocation of the one operating member to the aforesaid one side of said juncture only.

21. In an electrical device, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, drive means for reciprocating the one operating member, first operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are operable independently of the drive menas, but responsive to successive reciprocation means, the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture.

22. The electrical device according to claim 21 wherein the aforesaid other operating member constitutes a movable contact arm of a switch therein.

23. The electrical device according to claim 21 wherein the aforesaid one operating member constitutes a servo-actuating mechanism for a switch therein.

24. In combination, three relatively reciprocable operating members, a first and second of which are individually yieldably biased in one reciprocable direction thereof, in a course of translation, and conjointly reciprocable in the opposite reciprocable direction thereof, when forces are applied to the first operating member,

against the bias thereon, and the third of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise said course of translation, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the second operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, first operating means which are operable independently of the first operating member to reciprocate the third operating member when the second operating member undergoes reciprocation against the bias thereon, on one side of said juncture, and second operating means which are operable independently of the first operating member, but responsive to successive reciprocation of the second operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the third operating member undergoes reciprocation, to cause the latch means to alternatively latch and unlatch the second operating member against reciprocation of the one side of said juncture.

25. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members disposed on parallel axes of reciprocation, which are individually yieldably biased in one axial direction thereof, and conjointly reciprocable against the bias thereon when forces are applied to one of the members in the opposite axial direction thereof, and a latch mechanism which is operable to alternately latch and unlatch the other operating member against reciprocation in the one axial direction thereof, when the forces are successively applied to the one member in the opposite axial direction thereof, including reciprocable latch means, and latch operating means which are yieldably biased in the direction relatively toward the latch means, independently of the one operating member, but conjointly reciprocable with the one operating member in the one axial direction thereof, against the bias thereon.

26. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means, drive means for reciprocating the one operating member, first operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation in one reciprocable direction thereof.

27. The combination according to claim 26 wherein the first operating means includes means fonning a toggle joint between the latch means and the other operating member which is shiftable between said points when the one operating member is reciprocated in the alternate reciprocable directions thereof. 

1. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, drive means for reciprocating the one operating member, first operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture.
 2. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, first operating means which are responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture, the other operating member and the latch means being rotatable about axes crosswise the course of translation of the one operating member, and the axis of the latch menas being fixed in relation thereto, and the first operating means including first cam means which are reciprocable in relation to the latch means with the one operating member and operable to reciprocate the latch means in relation thereto, and means forming a toggle joint between the latch means and the other operating member, which is responsive to reciprocation of the first cam means in the direction relatively toward the latch means, to cause the other operating member to reciprocate between said points, and responsive to reciprocation of the first cam means in the direction relatively away from the latch means, to reverse the direction of reciprocation of the other operating member between said points when the first cam means is successively reciprocated toward the latch means.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the second operating means includes yieldable biasing means, and second cam means on the one operating member and the latch means which are operable to load the latch means against the bias of the biasing means when the other operating member is disposed at each of said points.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the second cam means are disengageable from one another, when the one operating member is reciprocated relatively away from said juncture in the course thereof, and the second operating means also includes third cam means on the one operating member and the latch means which are operable to retain the latch means against the bias of the biasing means at points spaced apart from the second cam means on the one operating member.
 5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the third cam means are disengageable from one another, when the one operating member is reciprocated relatively toward said juncture, but the one operating member has a detent thereon, in the space between the second and third cam means thereon, which registers with the latch means at the juncture.
 6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the latch means and the other operating member are rotatable about axes which are disposed in spaced parallel relationship to one another, and the first cam means are operatively interposed in the space therebetween.
 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the latch means and the other operating member include a pair of rocker members having crank arms thereon which are oppositely disposed to one another in the latter said space.
 8. The combination accOrding to claim 7 wherein the rocker member of the other operating member is pivotally mounted on the first cam means, and the toggle joint is formed by a pair of first angularly related cam surfaces on the crank arm of the latch means, and a spring-loaded pestle which is pivotally engaged with the rocker member of the other operating member to cause the crank arm thereof to assume a neutral position in the plane coincident with the axes of the latch means and the other operating member.
 9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the rocker member of the latch means has a pawl thereon which is oppositely disposed to the crank arm thereon and engageable and disengageable with and from the detent on the one operating member at the juncture in the course thereof.
 10. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the axes of both the other operating member and the latch means are fixed, the crank arm of the other operating member is rotated between a pair of stops, the rocker member of the latch means has a second crank arm thereon which is oppositely disposed to the first-mentioned arm thereon, and the toggle joint is formed by a leaf spring which is pivotally interconnected between the second crank arm of the latch means and the crank arm of the other operating member, and adapted to assume a neutral position when the crank arm of the other operating member is at either of said stops.
 11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the first-mentioned crank arm of the latch means has a cam latch pin thereon, and the first cam means includes a pair of first cam surfaces on the one operating member, which are oppositely longitudinally oriented to the course thereof, to one side of the detent at the juncture therein, and alternately engageable and disengageable with and from the pin when the one operating member reciprocates relatively toward and away from the juncture in the course thereof.
 12. The combination according to claim 9 wherein the second cam means are formed by a first cam surface on the one operating member which is parallel to the course thereof, and a pair of curved cam surfaces at opposite angularly related ends of the first cam surfaces on the crank arm of the rocker member of the latch means.
 13. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the second cam means are formed by a surface of the pin and a pair of curved cam surfaces at opposite transversely related ends of the first cam surfaces on the one operating member.
 14. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the third cam means includes a second cam surface on the one operating member which is parallel to but spaced apart from the first cam surface transverse the course thereof.
 15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the third cam means includes a pair of second cam surfaces on the one operating member which are spaced apart from the first cam surfaces thereon, lengthwise the course thereof, and a third cam surface on the rocker member of the latch means which is spaced apart from the pin, radially thereof.
 16. The combination according to claim 14 wherein the detent is interposed between the first and second cam surfaces on the one operating member, transverse the course thereof.
 17. The combination according to claim 15 wherein the detent is interposed between the curved cam surface at the end of one of the first cam surfaces, and the other of the first cam surfaces, at a point spaced apart from the adjacent second cam surface on the one operating member, lengthwise the course thereof.
 18. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the one operating member is yieldably biased in one reciprocable direction thereof and servo-operated by a third relatively reciprocable operating member which is operable to load the first cam means against the bias of the pestle in the one reciprocable direction of the one operating member, and operable to reciprocate the one operating member in the other reciprocable direction thereof against the bias thereon.
 19. THe combination according to claim 1 further comprising a secondary reciprocable actuating mechanism in said course, which is yieldably biased in the direction of the one operating member, and servo-operated in the other reciprocable direction thereof, by the one operating member, acting against the bias thereon.
 20. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising means for limiting the reciprocation of the one operating member to the aforesaid one side of said juncture only.
 21. In an electrical device, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the one operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, drive means for reciprocating the one operating member, first operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member on one side of said juncture, to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are operable independently of the drive menas, but responsive to successive reciprocation means, the one operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation on the one side of said juncture.
 22. The electrical device according to claim 21 wherein the aforesaid other operating member constitutes a movable contact arm of a switch therein.
 23. The electrical device according to claim 21 wherein the aforesaid one operating member constitutes a servo-actuating mechanism for a switch therein.
 24. In combination, three relatively reciprocable operating members, a first and second of which are individually yieldably biased in one reciprocable direction thereof, in a course of translation, and conjointly reciprocable in the opposite reciprocable direction thereof, when forces are applied to the first operating member, against the bias thereon, and the third of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise said course of translation, reciprocable latch means which are engageable and disengageable with and from the second operating member at a predetermined juncture in the course thereof, first operating means which are operable independently of the first operating member to reciprocate the third operating member when the second operating member undergoes reciprocation against the bias thereon, on one side of said juncture, and second operating means which are operable independently of the first operating member, but responsive to successive reciprocation of the second operating member on the other side of said juncture, when the third operating member undergoes reciprocation, to cause the latch means to alternatively latch and unlatch the second operating member against reciprocation of the one side of said juncture.
 25. In combination, a pair of relatively reciprocable operating members disposed on parallel axes of reciprocation, which are individually yieldably biased in one axial direction thereof, and conjointly reciprocable against the bias thereon when forces are applied to one of the members in the opposite axial direction thereof, and a latch mechanism which is operable to alternately latch and unlatch the other operating member against reciprocation in the one axial direction thereof, when the forces are successively applied to the one member in the opposite axial direction thereof, including reciprocable latch means, and latch operating means which are yieldably biased in the direction relatively toward the latch means, independently of the one operating member, but conjointly reciprocable with the one operating member in the one axial direction thereof, against the bias thereon.
 26. In combination, a pair of relatiVely reciprocable operating members, one of which is reciprocable in a course of translation, and the other of which is reciprocable about an axis crosswise of said course, reciprocable latch means, drive means for reciprocating the one operating member, first operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to reciprocation of the one operating member to reciprocate the other operating member between points on opposite sides of said course, and second operating means which are operable independently of the drive means, but responsive to successive reciprocation of the one operating member, when the other operating member is reciprocated between said points, to cause the latch means to alternately latch and unlatch the one operating member against reciprocation in one reciprocable direction thereof.
 27. The combination according to claim 26 wherein the first operating means includes means forming a toggle joint between the latch means and the other operating member which is shiftable between said points when the one operating member is reciprocated in the alternate reciprocable directions thereof. 